Poll: Homeschooling: Where do you stand?

[Berithil]

I was homeschooled and am in favor of it (for the most part. Not in favor of the "homeschooling" where the kids are allowed to do anything without any actual learning). I was homeschooled for several reasons, mainly due to the fact that it is cheaper than private schools and all the public schools in the area were trash and still are. Also, on the topic of education, when I was 16, I applied at the local community college to take classes. I shocked the counselor when he pulled up my placement test scores and they were higher than most public school graduates.

And I just have to say about the issue of no social interaction, school isn't the absolute only means of social interaction. I was in both a local homeschool co-op and 4-H and got plenty of social interaction through those activities.

 

[DEAD34345]

If your parent happens to be a teacher with all of the qualifications necessary to teach you everything you need to learn in every subject (unlikely at high-school level, possible at primary), then maybe. Even then I can't think of a single actual benefit of being taught like that compared to going to school, and you're still missing out on a lot of social interaction and development, but it's feasible at least.

But really, what actual advantage is there to home schooling compared to actual schooling anyway? The only one I can think of is that you can deprive your child of a balanced viewpoint so that it's easier to force your opinions upon them, and that is not an advantage I support at all.

 

[dyre]

I too would prefer better public education instead (not just throw more money into it, but curriculum reform, higher standards for teachers, smaller class sizes/more availability of one-on-one tutoring, etc). US actually spends a ton of money on education compared to other countries with quality education, but the money gets spread around badly.

Well of course, but all those things require money. And yes, we spend a ton, but we don't spend enough, and like you said, we spend a lot of it in the wrong places.

But it's not enough to just spend more money; you can throw all the cash you want into inner city schools, that's not going to make them better or make people want to teach there. In order for education reform to work, we need to reform EVERYTHING.

I think we actually spend more per student (and in total) than any other country on Earth. It's just that we have really nice schools with shitty teachers and then really broken down schools where I have no idea where the funding went.

It's true that general reform would help education reform, but I'm sure countries like France and Finland and Australia have poverty problems, but they still have better public education.

 

[De Ronneman]

I honestly don't think a parent can act as a teacher, unless they actually are teachers. Also, you will not interact with other kids in a playfull, cooperative fashion, as you're tought at school.

A pro is that you don't have to go to a school, which can be dreadfull for people who live isolated.

Still, I don't think that that is a big enough advantage to allow such a disadvantage at life.

 

[everythingbeeps]

I too would prefer better public education instead (not just throw more money into it, but curriculum reform, higher standards for teachers, smaller class sizes/more availability of one-on-one tutoring, etc). US actually spends a ton of money on education compared to other countries with quality education, but the money gets spread around badly.

Well of course, but all those things require money. And yes, we spend a ton, but we don't spend enough, and like you said, we spend a lot of it in the wrong places.

But it's not enough to just spend more money; you can throw all the cash you want into inner city schools, that's not going to make them better or make people want to teach there. In order for education reform to work, we need to reform EVERYTHING.

I think we actually spend more per student (and in total) than any other country on Earth. It's just that we have really nice schools with shitty teachers and then really broken down schools where I have no idea where the funding went.

I can't really believe that. It's one of those things that might technically be true from a budget standpoint, but the truth is that most of that money isn't going to the schools, teachers, or students. I also would have no idea where that money went.

All I know is that schools can't attract good teachers because teachers don't get paid enough, even WITH their unions, and the republicans want to bust those unions, which only makes teaching an even less appetizing job.

There are so many reasons that the public education system is broken, but three big ones are: bad teachers, too-big classes, and outdated materials. Money goes a long way towards improving all three of those.

 

[bakan]

Well, I was homeschooled when I couldn't attend school for nearly 1.5 years as I was sick and I was roughly 1 year ahead of my class when I came back but never felt pressured during the lessons at home/hospital.
Actually, it was more enjoyable as we did a lot of things I liked, some extracurricular stuff and most importantly at my speed.
Public school was pure boredom and I finished school with just mediocre marks.

Btw, I wasn't always alone and had some other students around me who couldn't attend school, too and my close friends kept visiting me.

Now in the university it is fun again, as I am in a small degree programme and just some classes are crowded.

Guess I like studying in smaller groups and I'm happy with a small circle of friend.

Conclusion:
I'm all for homeschooling.

 

[dyre]

I too would prefer better public education instead (not just throw more money into it, but curriculum reform, higher standards for teachers, smaller class sizes/more availability of one-on-one tutoring, etc). US actually spends a ton of money on education compared to other countries with quality education, but the money gets spread around badly.

Well of course, but all those things require money. And yes, we spend a ton, but we don't spend enough, and like you said, we spend a lot of it in the wrong places.

But it's not enough to just spend more money; you can throw all the cash you want into inner city schools, that's not going to make them better or make people want to teach there. In order for education reform to work, we need to reform EVERYTHING.

I think we actually spend more per student (and in total) than any other country on Earth. It's just that we have really nice schools with shitty teachers and then really broken down schools where I have no idea where the funding went.

I can't really believe that. It's one of those things that might technically be true from a budget standpoint, but the truth is that most of that money isn't going to the schools, teachers, or students. I also would have no idea where that money went.

All I know is that schools can't attract good teachers because teachers don't get paid enough, even WITH their unions, and the republicans want to bust those unions, which only makes teaching an even less appetizing job.

There are so many reasons that the public education system is broken, but three big ones are: bad teachers, too-big classes, and outdated materials. Money goes a long way towards improving all three of those.

meh, efficient spending works wonders where plain old money doesn't seem to do much.

Not like it matters though, really. The way our political system is set up, no major reforms will ever happen.

Also, if you're curious, here's some data on US spending and how it compares to the rest of the world.
http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66
http://mat.usc.edu/u-s-education-versus-the-world-infographic/

 

[Vigilantis]

In favor in the general idea of it, but it does depend on the ability of the "teacher" aswell. I was homeschooled for 3 years and then decided I wanted to go to highschool. Once I was in highschool it was so easy compared to homeschool that I was literally able to slack off for 4 years till graduation. (In hindsight it wasn't smart but clearly a fun time in my life)

You want your kid to have a better education than that of the schools? Teach em at home, but be sure they still get that social interaction.

 

[Yopaz]

I'm against because it makes the kids unable to deal with the life outside. Sure the kids get more attention and in some cases there might be advantages, but I don't believe we should be training masterminds who can't function with other people.
However some don't fit into the normal education system, some will ruin it for their fellow students so this is not black and white.
However my goal is to become a teacher so I am biased so all my opinions should be ignored in this matter.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I'm against it.

I haven't met a single normal person who was home schooled.

Try this [http://writingishard.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/logical-fallacy-friday-argument-by-anecdote/]

Also, please define "normal"

I roomed with a home schooled kid who didn't know what a circumcised penis was.

A complete lack of social skills and zero knowledge outside of a very sheltered existence seems to be all you get with home schooling.

I feel sorry that you had to be home schooled. Talk about child abuse.

Again, argument from anecdote. That's a fallacy. Try using numbers or something of that nature. Saying "I've met homeschooled kids who weren't well adjusted, therefore, homeschooling is bad for children " is a fallacy to the Nth degree.

And please, I don't need your sympathy.

 

[major_chaos]

As someone who has been homeschooled for most of my life i'm not sure where people get this idea that social skills are something that can only be had from public school I do better around both teens and adults than some of the public school students I know and with the stories they tell me about the way people behave I don't think I'm missing anything, although some might say I'm socially deficient because I have a small group of friends that has way more to do with my personality (I have a disposition to disliking people on sight and with most people I don't change my mind very fast)and personal philosophy (I have seen to many people with large groups of "friends" get betrayed and abandoned at the drop of a hat and would much rather have a small group of close trusted friends than a large group of sorta-friends that I just tolerate)
EDIT: the other issue that people seem to be having in this thread is the fear that parents will teach their children *dramatic music* RELIGION *crowd gasps* what I fail to understand is how this will have a significant effect on the child at any point in their life or why it seems to be considered criminal to teach intelligent design when again it makes no difference (unless the student wants to be a science teacher at witch point they have limited their options but that only applies to a small number of people) also I wonder about the people who worry that parents will "indoctrinate" their kids because I cant speak for other people but the schools by me certainly don't teach multiple ideas or points of view nor do they encourage critical thinking or analysis just "this is the answer you will remember the answer and you will repeat the answer"

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I'm against it.

I haven't met a single normal person who was home schooled.

Try this [http://writingishard.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/logical-fallacy-friday-argument-by-anecdote/]

Also, please define "normal"

I roomed with a home schooled kid who didn't know what a circumcised penis was.

A complete lack of social skills and zero knowledge outside of a very sheltered existence seems to be all you get with home schooling.

I feel sorry that you had to be home schooled. Talk about child abuse.

Again, argument from anecdote. That's a fallacy. Try using numbers or something of that nature. Saying "I've met homeschooled kids who weren't well adjusted, therefore, homeschooling is bad for children " is a fallacy to the Nth degree.

And please, I don't need your sympathy.

Being the victim of child abuse will get anyone my sympathy.

Firstly, if you're really trying to state that homeschooling is child abuse, you've crossed over into Poe's Law territory

Secondly, what on God's good earth makes you think it is child abuse? If you're going to claim that it is, at least provide some argument or proof.

 

[MrCalypso]

I honestly do not know that much about home schooling to judge but if I had to base a decision solely on by dealings with home schooled kids I'd be against it. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it and with the right people in the right place I think it could be a success. But the cases I have seen have revealed more about bad parenting than anything. The kids I have met have been repressed and sheltered by there parents and its crippled them socially. I feel bad for them and I know theres more cases like this out there. I'm sure some can make home schooling work but others should never be allowed to even consider it.

 

[That guy1234]

Being someone who is currently being home schooled, I can tell you that in my own opinion and in my own experiences, it definitely has it's ups and it has it's downs. The advantages of me going to home-school is that I go to a online version of public school called k12, and I am getting a very good education and if I want to know more about something I have the internet as an immediate resource that I can use. Now if you keep in mind the kind of public schools I have in my town, home-schooling was the way to go. I say this because I was most likely going to be beaten up for no reason and be given a crappy education at these schools. This was the main reason why my mom didn't want me going to schools around here because she had the same problems with my brother when he went to high-school. When I first started in 7th grade everything seemed OK and I wasn't having problems academically. However, during that first year (I'm in 10th grade just so you know) I noticed something change in me. I have to this day an unexplainable nervousness and anxiety whenever I go out somewhere, Talk to someone I don't know, or when I have do STAR testing (you physically have to take those tests). For example about a year ago I was getting a slayer CD and this only took me about 5 mins to go in the store and find the CD, but I then just kind of wondered around for no reason because I didn't want to go deal with the cashier. Only because I was nervous about talking to him, and what makes it just a little bit weirder is that I was completely aware that the way I felt and what I was doing was stupid and embarrassing and I should just go pay the guy and be on my way. Now this was never me, I was always the kid who started up conversations with people I don't know and cracked a bunch of jokes all the time, and I still do, but I never had this problem before I started this program. I knew that it was because I didn't have regular social interaction on a day to day basis. While I like to believe I haven't lost social skills that I gained nor have I stopped being who I am but now there's just this uneasiness that inhibits me from doing what I have previously done so naturally.

Another thing about this home-schooling thing is the kids. I've yet to meet a group of people that were more uptight, ignorant, judgmental,racist a******s. Mind the fact it's not all of them of course, but, I'd go as far as to say 3/4ths of them are. Let me give some minor examples of each, uptight and judgmental because I once typed in hell and a good majority of them started lecturing me how I shouldn't cuss because only stupid people cuss and cussing doesn't make me look cool and also about how immoral it is ( I am also kind of refereed to as "that guy" now). Ignorant and racist because in my Spanish class (of all classes) one of them said "who else is only their to learn Spanish just in case the "racist slur against Mexicans here" take over the country" While this kid was the only one to say this many people agreed with him. Luckily he got in trouble for this but unfortunately only he was punished.

So ya, these are my own ongoing experiences with it and while it might seem I hate it I don't, academically everything's there for me to succeed and do well and that's great and all, but the lack of talking to people in real life that isn't my one buddy who I do know or my buddy's in Xbox live, has kind of gotten to me. While I could go out on these little outings that they have for us to interact with each other I just don't want to because of the way these kids are and that is my own damn fault for not having more social interaction but even when I am around them I just can't stand them. All in all, it's not that bad, definitely the better choice in my situation in my opinion but given the option to go to a good normal high-school, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

 

[dancinginfernal]

It's valid if the parents are good at what they do, are deemed logically sane and responsible by the government, and the kid is all for it. Homeschooled kids don't socialize to nearly the extent of public and private schoolers.

So, it depends.

 

[alandavidson]

I'm very in favor of homeschooling IF the parent (or teacher) is competent and capable is teaching.

I was homeschooled all the way up, and I turned out fine. I had, and still have, a very active social life. Now, it needs to be pointed out that both of my parents have science degrees, and are very well-versed in many subjects. My mother was the primary teacher, and she made sure that I learned the material and was proficient in it. And it was a very effective teaching method, because by the time I was 14, I was doing college history and English courses. I took standardized testing and scored well above the national average in all subjects. It also needs to be pointed out that I received a rather "secular" education.

Now I'm an actor, and have to be able to socially network with people, constantly interview for jobs, memorize large amounts of text in a very short period of time, and respond positively to direction. And I do fine in all of those areas.

Back on the note of socialization, I have plenty of friends and people I hang out with, and no problem socializing with anyone.

The problem with homeschooling is that it is rather unrestricted. Even though I did fine, and received a very balanced and thorough education, I've known kids who were homeschooled by super-conservative, or just plain stupid parents. Anyone who teaches kids needs to be subject to testing and review, just like public and private school teachers. If the parent cannot pass the test, then the parent should not be allowed to teach.

In my opinion, homeschooling is a great form of education, IF the parent is competent and educated.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I'm against it.

I haven't met a single normal person who was home schooled.

Try this [http://writingishard.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/logical-fallacy-friday-argument-by-anecdote/]

Also, please define "normal"

I roomed with a home schooled kid who didn't know what a circumcised penis was.

A complete lack of social skills and zero knowledge outside of a very sheltered existence seems to be all you get with home schooling.

I feel sorry that you had to be home schooled. Talk about child abuse.

Again, argument from anecdote. That's a fallacy. Try using numbers or something of that nature. Saying "I've met homeschooled kids who weren't well adjusted, therefore, homeschooling is bad for children " is a fallacy to the Nth degree.

And please, I don't need your sympathy.

Being the victim of child abuse will get anyone my sympathy.

Firstly, if you're really trying to state that homeschooling is child abuse, you've crossed over into Poe's Law territory

Secondly, what on God's good earth makes you think it is child abuse? If you're going to claim that it is, at least provide some argument or proof.

*Looks at you*

Yep, can only be the result of child abuse.

Annnnnnd that's borderline ad hominem.

Again, what makes you say that? A few posting on the internet?